Collapsible berry-box.



J. F. WHITE.

COLLAPSIBLE BERRY BOX.

APPLICATION FILED FEB.3,1912.

1,069,834 Patented Aug. 12, 1913.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

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J. P. WHITE.

COLLAPSIBLE BERRY BOX.

APPLICATION FILED FEB. 3,.1912.

1,069,834 Patented Aug. 12,1913.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

J. F. WHITE.

COLLAPSIBLE BERRY BOX.

APPLICATION FILED FEB. 3, 1912.

1,069,340 P tented Aug 12,1913.

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JOHN F. WHITE, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS.

COLLAPSIBLE BERRY-BOX.

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Application filed February 3, 1912.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that 1, JOHN F. VI-UTE, a citizenof the United States, residing at Chicage, in the county of Cook andState of Illinois, have invented certain new and useful Improvements inCollapsible Berry- Boxes, of which the following is a specification,reference being had therein to the accompanying drawing.

This invention relates to improvements in b xes and has for its primaryobject the provision of a collapsible berry box of sim ple constructionadapted to be readily assembled or taken apart, and possessingcharacteristics enabling the same to be shipped in a compact fiatcondition when not in use, and afiording a strong, evenly balancedreceptacle reinforced by a double wall through out when in use.

The preferred embodiment of the invention practically eliminates the useof a paste or separate fastenings to secure the meeting edges of partsof a knock-down box together, and dispenses in a large measure with therequirement for the use of lugs or irregular shaped tongues to preventcollapsing of the box when in use, and correspondingly increasing theease and facility with which the box may be made and assembled.

Heretofore it has been attempted to provide collapsible boxes of thegeneral character herein set forth, but they have been unbalanced and ofunequal strength in different parts thereof, owing either to the factthat some of the walls are of single, while others are of doublethickness, while in other instances, as where all of the walls areformed of a single piece of material, one or more of the walls would beof more than double thickness, inherently involving the additionaldisadvantage of useless waste of material. In the former instance, whereany of the walls are of single ply, it is obvious that the same requiresthe employment of a box board of substantially greater thickness andrigidity than where double thickness walls are afforded, and it is wellrecognized in this art that the use of a lighter material, ascontemplated by me, requires less scoring and consequent weakening thanwhere heavy stiff board is used.

The invention comprises a box composed of three separate members,properly designated a bottom and two side members, the

bottom being provided with extensions constituting reinforcing innerwalls for the ad- Speeifieation of Letters Patent.

Patented A11 12,1913.

Serial No. 675,246.

joining sides, and the side members cooperating to correspondinglyreinforce the remaining sides of the box, the parts being adapted to besecured together by interlocking tongues and slitted portions toproperly tie the sides together and support the bottom in place, thesecuring means being amply capable of performing their expectedfunctions and preventing unexpected unlocking incident to carelesshandling or shipping so commonly encountered.

More specifically, the invention consists in the formation of the sidemembers so that they may be connected in assembled relation and fastenedtogether while at the same time presenting a substantially smoothinterior for the introduction of the bottom member thereinto from thetop opening formed by the assembled sides.

The improved features in detail and construction will be apparent fromthe specific description hereinafter contained when read in connectionwith the accompanying drawings forming part hereof, wherein the beforereferred to preferred embodiment of the invention is illustrated.

In the drawings, Figure 1 is an elevation of one of the side members ofthe box; Fig. 2 is an elevation of the bottom member of the box; Fig. 3is an elevation of the other side member of the box; Fig. t is aperspective view of the side members assembled; Fig. 5 is a perspectiveview of the bottom member showing the manner of folding the same; Fig.(5 is a perspective view of the completed box assembled; Fig. 7 is across section on line (la-00 of Fig. 6; Fig. 8 is a cross section online 1 1 of Fig. 6; Fig. 9 is a perspective view of a modified form ofbottom member, and Fig. 10 is a perspective view of an assembled box inwhich is utilized a bottom member of the construction shown in Fig. 9.

Referring more specifically to the drawings, wherein like referencecharacters designate corresponding parts in the several views, Arepresents one of the side members, B the other side member, and G thebottom member. The side members are scored as at a and Z) to permitbending of the same into three wall sections A A A and B B Brespectively, while the bottom member is similarly scored as at c toprovide a bottom section C and two side sections 0 C the side sections CC in this instance, however, being of less depth than the correspondingside sections A B of the side members, so that when assembled (Figs. 5and 6) the bottom C is arranged at a substantial dis tance above theextreme bottom edges of the box to provide an air space below the bottomfrom which air may pass through the bottom C and aerate the contents ofthe box, apertures D being provided in the bottom for that purpose andcut away portions E being formed in the lower margins of the sidesections A B to permit entrance of air to the space below the bottom CThese last mentioned cut away portions in the margins of the sides alsoconstitute supporting feet; F on said sides adapted to rest on somewhat;uneven surfaces.

In assembling the box, it is desirable to first assemble the sidemembers and then insert the bottom member. To that end, I form atopposite ends of the side members, that is in the section A and thesection B parallel slits G, H adapted to be vertically disposed withreference to the completed box, and to receive correspondingly arranged,similarly oppositely disposed tongues I, J cut out from the sidesections A B The side sections being folded along the creases a, b andthe tongues passed through both slitted portions to prevent anyobstruction being constituted by the tongues on the inner surface of thesides, it will be seen that the side members are interlocked, throughthe medium of the tongues, at two points, and with the tongues inoppositely disposed relation, so that any pulling strain tending torelease one of the tongues acts to secure the other with a firmer holdin its interlocking engagement. This practically insures against anyaccidental release of the parts. As thus assembled, it will be seen thatthe sections A B constitute a reinforced double ply wall, while theopposite sections A B constitute a similar double ply reinforced wall.The sides are now ready to receive the bottom member, to which end theside sections A B are provided with parallel slits K, L, disposedhorizontally with reference to the completed box, adapted to receivedepending tongues M, N, cut out from the side wall sections C C of thebottom member. member being introduced within the connected sidemembers, and the tongues M, N passed downwardly through the slits K, L,the bottom C will be properly supported in position as hereinbeforepointed out, and so that the side sections A C and B G constitutereinforced double ply side walls similar to the remaining double plyreinforced side walls to which I have previously alluded. In this way,every wall of the box is reinforced to substantially the same extent,the box evenly balanced and properly proportioned throughout, andwastefulness of material obviated.

The bottom- The free edges of the bottom section C are provided withextensions or flaps O, scoring 0 being provided to permit bending up ofthese flaps to effectually close the opening between the bottom and theadjoining pairs of side sections A B and A B By the provision of theconstruction herein described, it will be appreciated by persons skilledin the art that a device is afforded of simple, cheap, and durableconstruction capable of performing the services for which the same isintended. It will also be apparent that, although I have hereindisclosed a special embodiment of the inven tion, said invention iscapable of embodiment in other forms and devices than that shown anddescribed. As an example, Ihave illustrated in Figs. 7 and S a secondembodiment of the invention wherein the general characteristics of myhereinbefore described berry box are contained, supplemented by theadditional feature of a cover, it being understood that berry boxes, asa general proposition, do not require a lid or cover, while in otheruses of a collapsible or knockdown box, a cover is desirable. To affordthe cover referred to I utilize, in lieu of the bottom section G acombined bot-tom and top section adapted to be inserted and held inplace by the sides as previously pointed out. One of the upturned bottomflanges O of the first series of figures, in the present instancedesignated is carried upwardly to the upper edge of the box where it iscreased and terminates in a cover or lid P, the latter in turn havingdepending flanges 39 adapted to be inserted into the spaces 7 betweenthe plies constituting the double walled sides of the box, whicharrangement will effectually secure the cover in place. The top may bealso apertured in this instance as at Q for ventilating purposes. Theside sections R of the combined bottom and top member are of suflicientdepth in this instance to position the bottom S in the plane of thebottom edge of the sides, as distinguished from having the bottom occupya relatively elevated position, as previously pointed out.

T. claim:

1. A knock-down paper box of the character described comprising a bodyhaving two side members and one bottom member separably connected byinterlocking tongues and slitted portions, the side members overlappingto constitute two ply walls and the bottom member having side extensions00- operating with portions of the side members to constitute remainingtwo ply walls so that said body has double walls entirely around thesame.

2. A knock-down paper box of the character described comprising a bodyhaving two side members and one bottom member separably connected byinterlocking tongues and slitted portions the ends of the side membersoverlapping to constitute two ply walls and the bottom member havingside extensions cooperating with intermediate portions of the sidemembers to constitute remaining two ply walls, so that said body hasdouble walls entirely around the same, the free edges of the bottommember being provided with upwardly turned flanges to close the lowerportion of the box adjacent thereto.

3. A knock-down paper box of the character described comprising a bodyhaving two side members and one bottom member separably connected byinterlocking tongues and slitted portions the ends of the side membersoverlapping to constitute two ply walls and the bottom member havingside extensions cooperating with intermediate portions of the sidemembers to constitute remaining two ply walls, so that said body hasdouble walls entirely around the same, the free edges of the bottommember being provided with upwardly turned flanges to close the lowerportion of the box adjacent thereto, one of said flanges extendingupwardly and carrying a top.

4:. A knock-down paper box of the character described comprising a bodyhaving two side members and one bottom member separably connected byinterlocking tongues and slitted portions, the ends of the side membersoverlapping to constitute two ply walls and the bottom member havingside extensions cooperating with intermediate portions of the sidemembers to constitute remaining two ply walls, so that said body hasdouble walls entirely around the same, the free edges of the bottommember being provided with upwardly turned flanges to close the lowerportion of the box adjacent thereto, one of said flanges extendingupwardly and carrying a top, the top being provided with a dependingflange adapted to fit between the plies of one of the two ply walls ofthe box.

5. A knock-down paper box of the character described comprising a bodyhaving two side members and a separate bottom member separably connectedby interlocking tongues and slitted portions, the side membersoverlapping to constitute two ply walls and the bottom member havingside extensions cooperating with portions of the side members toconstitute remaining two ply walls, so that said body has double wallsentirely around the same, one of the 1nem bers carrying a top section.

6. A knock-down paper box of the character described comprising a bodyhaving two side members and a separate bottom member separably connectedby interlocking tongues and slit-ted portions, the side membersoverlapping to constitute two ply walls and the bottom member havingside extensions cooperating with portions of the side members toconstitute remaining two ply walls, so that said body has double wallsentirely around the same, one of the members carrying a top section, andthe top section having a depending flange adapted to fit within thespace between one of the two ply walls of the box.

7. A knock-down paper box of the character described comprising a bodyhaving two side members and one bottom member separably connected byinterlocking tongues and slitted portions, the side members overlappingto constitute two ply walls and. the bottom member having sideextensions cooperating with port-ions of the side members to constituteremaining two ply walls, so that said body has double walls entirelyaround the same, said bottom member also carrying a top section,substantially as described.

S. A knock-down paper box of the character described comprising a bodyhaving two side members and one bottom member separably connected byinterlocking tongues and slitted portions, the side members overlappingto constitute two ply walls and the bottom member having side extensionscooperating with portions of the side members to constitute remainingtwo ply walls, so that said body has a double wall entirely around thesame, said bottom member also carrying a top section, and the topsection having a depending flange adapted to fit into the space betweenone of the two ply walls.

9. A knock down box of the character described, comprising a body havingoppositely disposed side members provided with end portions overlappingfor the full length thereof, the end portions of said side members beingprovided with oppositely disposed interlocking tongues and slittedportions, and a bottom member having side extensions overlying theintermediate portions of the side members, to constitute two-ply wallsentirely around the sides of the box, the side extensions of the bottombeing provided with downwardly extending tongues and the intermediateportions of the side members being provided with slits adapted toreceive said tongues.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

JOHN F. WHITE. Witnesses E. I. HANSEN, I. M. PHILLIPS.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressingthe Commissioner of Patents, Washington, I). G.

